Page 88 of Wild Side

“So, we’re cool?” Sable asks.

There is a moment of silence, a pregnant pause, and then my woman speaks, and when she does, I swear to fuck I fall a little deeper in love with her.

“We are absolutely not cool. But I still forgive you and appreciate your apology. Please don’t contact me or come here again, though.”

Sable opens and closes her mouth a couple of times, but thankfully doesn’t say anything. Brake snorts in the background. Sable turns, and I watch as her head hangs as she walks back to the moving van, climbing inside the front seat.

I’m unable to control myself. I turn toward my woman and cup her cheeks with my palms before I lean forward, touching my mouth to hers. Everyone around us melts away in this moment.

Zadie is everything. She is the world—my world.

“I love you, honey. Proud of you.”

Her lips curve up against mine, and her breath hitches slightly. “Thank you for loving me, Chase. You are everything.”

She might think I’m everything, but whatever is bigger than that, that’s what she is to me. We can overcome whatever is thrown our way. I will catch it with my bare hands and throw it right fucking back.

No part of the world outside of the two of us will ever stick.

Not when we have one another to deflect it all.

EPILOGUE

MAVERICK

FOUR MONTHS LATER

“I can’t be going on a run of any kind right now,” I state.

There is a moment of silence between me and Viking. His blue eyes focus on me. He doesn’t even blink as he stares at me. I’ve successfully not gone on any runs at all since we got in bed with Robin and started providing his trucks protection as they go across country.

“Why?” Viking asks.

My eyes widen as I lean forward slightly. “Are you seriously asking me that?”

“I thought the babies don’t come for another couple of months.”

I snort. “Which would be fine if they weren’t plural. I gotta be here just in case something happens. No way am I going anywhere until after they’re born.”

Viking rolls his eyes to the ceiling, then shifts his attention back to meet mine. “Fine,” he snaps.

He’s obviously annoyed, though I don’t really think it’s focused on me. I have a feeling it has to do with something else… maybe even someoneelse. I ignore his shitty attitude, knowing it likely has nothing to do with me.

Standing, I tap the table a couple of times. His gaze flicks to meet mine. “I’m going to get with Bullet and see what I can do here to help out, yeah?”

I’ve been slacking as a brother. I know I have. I’m the club secretary, and I know it’s time for me to step up to my full potential. Zadie and I are stable. The babies are good. It’s time for me to put in some real hours.

“I’m in a shit mood,” Viking grumbles.

Jerking my chin toward him, I don’t agree verbally. He doesn’t need me to confirm or deny a goddamn thing.

So I don’t.

“Whatever it is, it’ll work out,” I say. “You wanna talk about it, I’m here.”

Viking snorts once, then inhales a deep breath before he lets it out slowly. I can sense that whatever is weighing on him is heavy. I don’t pry, though. It’s not my business to demand he talk to me. I’m his brother, not his therapist. Although if that’s what he needs me to be, that’s what I’ll be for him.

“You’re right. It’ll work itself out one way or another.”